UN votes to back a government for Palestine excluding Hamas

The UN general assembly has voted to back a Hamas-free government for Palestine as part of a carefully crafted compromise in which Arab states go further in condemning the October 2023 attack on Israel in return for clear support for a Palestinian state.

- Patrick Wintour

The aim is to show that Israel and the US are isolated in opposing a long-term solution to the Gaza war, and how countries such as Germany, a strong supporter of Israel, are backing a solution in which the Palestinian Authority eventually governs the West Bank and Gaza.

The 142-10 vote yesterday was to endorse the so-called New York declaration, a statement calling for a two-state solution, crafted by France and Saudi Arabia in July.

It includes some of the sharpest criticism of Hamas ever endorsed by the UN. The text states: "We condemn the attacks perpetrated on 7 October by Hamas against civilians," and "Hamas must release all hostages" held in Gaza.

Israel, the US, Hungary and Argentina were among the countries voting against. There were 12 abstentions.

The vote for the declaration will be seen as paving the way for the one-day UN conference on a two-state solution, due to be held in New York immediately before the UN general assembly high-level week.